Tag Archives: New York City travel guide

Among New York City’s many charms the fact that you can explore the city easily by foot, visiting world-renowned attractions, acclaimed museums and standout dining destinations. Strolling the streets that surround Hotel Belleclaire is a great way to unearth overlooked neighborhood favorites, and taking your travels further afield allows you to discover under-the-radar areas. Hotel Belleclaire is located in the heart of the Upper West Side, one of the city’s most walkable areas. Central Park, Riverside Park, Midtown and Columbia University all provide ample scenery and activities to keep you entertained for a morning, afternoon, or an entire day.

NYC Walking Tours:

Central Park Reservoir Loop

From Hotel Belleclaire, walk east on 77th Street. When you reach Columbus Avenue, look to the left to see the American Museum of National History, one of the world’s most famous museums. When you reach Central Park West, turn around and take in the rows of stately apartment buildings across from the park. These buildings – most erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – are part of the Central Park West Historic District, and display some of the city’s finest Neo-Renaissance architecture. Enter the park and take one of the winding paths north to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. The 1.5-mile loop around the Reservoir is one of the most picturesque paths in New York City, providing stellar views of the city’s skyscrapers over the placid water.

Hudson River Greenway

If you’re seeking a break from the claustrophobia of the concrete jungle, walk west on 77th Street to Riverside Park. Just two blocks from Hotel Belleclaire, this verdant strip of greenery and trees borders the Hudson River and provides a great place to find a cool breeze. Walk across the park to the riverfront and head north along the Hudson River Greenway. This popular biking, jogging and walking trail provides peerless views of New Jersey, and extends north to Riverbank State Park, which extends into the Hudson and provides a variety of athletic and arts experiences.

Broadway Lights

The city’s most famous thoroughfare, Broadway bisects the island of Manhattan, making its way through many of NYC’s notable neighborhoods on its way from Inwood Hill to Battery Park. Hotel Belleclaire is located at the corner of 77th and Broadway, making it easy to turn the corner from the front door to start this walking route. Head downtown on Broadway, taking time to admire the early-20th century architecture of the Upper West Side. Broadway doesn’t run parallel to the rest of NYC’s avenues, meaning it crosses each avenue to create one of the city’s famed squares. Here are some of the unique intersections you’ll pass through during your walk:

Lincoln Square (at 65th Street)

Columbus Circle (at 59th Street)

Times Square (45th Street)

Herald Square (34th Street)

Madison Square (23rd Street)

Union Square (14th Street)

Columbia University

The densely populated, skyscraper-filled island of Manhattan is the last place you’d think to find an expansive, beautiful college campus. But just a few miles north of Hotel Belleclaire sits Columbia University, an Ivy League institution and a six-block respite from the concrete and steel of the city. Walk up Broadway from Hotel Belleclaire and take in the essence of the Upper West Side. It’s one of Manhattan’s most diverse neighborhoods, featuring cuisine of all kinds and residents of all origins. When you reach 116th Street, enter Columbia’s gates and take the tree-lined walk east to the open lawn. The Beaux-Arts buildings that line the green courtyards were built near the turn of the 20th century – the most famous structure is the Low Memorial Library, an 1895 building that is listed as a National Historic Landmark.